More People Going By Air

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29723, 17 January 1962, Page 12

More People Going By Air

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, January 16.

Tasman air traffic for October, November and December last year—the first quarters’ operations by Tasman Empire Airways and Qantas —showed an 11 per cent, increase over the same months in 1960. With the increased services loads have fallen slightly. The number of passengers carried in the fourth quarter of last year was 28.191. compared with 25.426 in 1960.

For the nine months of operation to December 31, the comparable figures were 76.801 and 63,673, a rise, of 20.6 per cent. Loads were slightly higher during 1960, when three types !

of aircraft were flying across the Tasman—Electras, DC6’s and Super-Constellations. The airline’s target then was 63 per cent, loads, said the general manager of Teal, Mr F. A. Reeves. In the latter part of 1961, with only Electras flying, loads were just under 60 per cent. Since Qantas entered the Tasman service in October the returns now exclude infants who make up 3 per cent, of the total traffic. For the six months to next March 31, the Tasman traffic is divided between Teal and Qantas on a seven-to-three basis in terms of the agreement between the airlines and the New Zealand and Australian Governments.

This division did not necessarily apply in any particular month, said Mr Reeves. The schedule allowed for aircraft maintenance timetables and commitments on other routes run by both airlines.

Loads on Teal and Qantas services so far were quite similar, said Mr Reeves, which meant that for the six-monthly period the proportions of traffic by each airline should relate closely to the service frequency. Tasman air traffic had finished the year on a healthy note, said Mr Reeves. December was a record month with 11.367 passengers. The busiest day was December 22, with 704 passengers.